Coherence in spontaneous radiation processes, pp. 99-110 in Physical Review Vol. 93, No. 1, January 1, 1954

DICKE, Robert H.

Published by Lancaster, PA & New York, NY: American Physical Society, 1954

About this Item

First edition, journal issue in original printed wrappers, of the theoretical explanation of coherent stimulated emission of light, the basis for the operation of the maser and laser. "Coherence is a term that is used to describe a process where amplitudes add with a relative phase and one observes a physical quantity that is proportional to the square of the total amplitude. A familiar example is the interference pattern from two slits one sees in classical optics. The light coming from the two slits is coherent, so that, at any point on the screen, one adds the electric-field amplitudes, while the observed light intensity is proportional to the square of the total field. In quantum mechanics, coherence and interference arise when the wave amplitudes have to be added. In atomic physics, the term coherence is used for two distinctly different phenomena: (i) those which occur in a single atom when two states have a relative phase between them, and (ii) those which occur when there is more than one atom radiating so that radiative coupling between the atoms becomes important . . . The second kind dominates when the atoms are localized to a spatial region that is smaller than a wavelength of the radiation. Then, radiative coupling between the atoms becomes important and the phase of the field between the radiators does not vary much, . . . In [the present] paper, Dicke discussed this second kind of coherence, namely the collective behaviour of N particles decaying by spontaneous emission" (Natarajan, 'Robert Dicke and Atomic Physics,' Resonance, April 2011). Large 8vo, pp. [ii], 257. Original printed wrappers (spine a little faded and with slight wear at ends). Seller Inventory # ABE-1609766963181

Bibliographic Details

Title: Coherence in spontaneous radiation processes...

Publisher: Lancaster, PA & New York, NY: American Physical Society

Publication Date: 1954

Binding: Soft cover

Condition: Very Good

Edition: 1st Edition